Re: I'm stuck with these

Hello Silverred,

The first sentence is a twist to the very common saying "el que calla otorga". It means that when you are accused and you don't say a word, you are confirming your guilt or responsibility. This last part corresponds to the meaning of "otorgar·.
In this case, an exception to the saying is added with the "not always".

Re: I'm stuck with these

That goes along with the US Supreme Court's ruling in Miranda vs Arizona in 1966 that a person has the RIGHT to remain silent and must be advised of that right by police if interrogated in custody, i.e., not free to walk away; hence the so-named Miranda Warning that all police must give to a person suspected of a crime, before questioning. It goes something like this: "You have the right to remain silent and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law".

So, given the possible consequences, even an innocent person would be wise to keep quiet.